If you're looking for a snack that’s both indulgent and packed with flavor, these Jalapeño Popper Wontons are the perfect recipe. With the creamy, cheesy filling and a crispy exterior, they’re the perfect bite-sized treats to serve at your next gathering. Whether you're hosting a game night or just craving a savory snack, these wontons are sure to be a hit.
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Jalapeño poppers have long been a favorite appetizer, known for their delightful combination of spicy jalapeños, creamy cheese, and crispy coating and in my opinion, the filling is even better inside a crispy wonton. The concept is similar to crab Rangoon, but this version swaps out the seafood for a vegetarian-friendly (and bacon-enhanced) option.
This recipe pairs well with this Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad. After enjoying the rich and creamy jalapeño popper wontons, the cool, tangy cucumber salad provides a refreshing finish. It helps cleanse the palate, making each bite of the wontons feel as enjoyable as the first.
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Ingredients
Wonton Wrappers - These are perfect for holding the filling together and frying up to a golden crisp. Their thin, delicate texture provides the perfect crunch.
Cream Cheese: The cream cheese provides a rich, creamy base that balances the heat from the jalapeños. It’s essential for that smooth, luxurious filling.
Cheddar Cheese- Cheddar adds a sharp, tangy flavor that complements the creaminess of the cream cheese and the heat of the jalapeños.
Mozzarella: Mozzarella works well in this recipe because when it melts it gives the filling that stretchy, gooey texture when you bite into the wonton.
Bacon Rashers, Cooked and Chopped: Bacon adds a smoky, savory depth to the filling, balancing out the richness of the cheese with its salty crispiness. If you want to make these wontons vegetarian then the bacon can either be left out or replaced with smoky tempeh or plant-based bacon.
Spring Onions: Spring onions add a fresh, slightly sharp flavor and a vibrant green color.
Jalapeños: Jalapeños bring the heat and a touch of sweetness, which is key to the flavor profile of these wontons.
Vegetable oil: I used vegetable oil because it has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, allowing the flavors of the wontons to shine.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Start by preparing your ingredients by chopping the jalapeños and spring onions, grating the cheese and cooking the bacon until it’s crispy. You can either fry the bacon in a pan or bake it in the oven until it reaches your desired crispness. Once done, chop it into small pieces and set aside with the rest of the ingredients.
2. Step 2: In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, grated cheddar, grated mozzarella, chopped spring onions, jalapeños, and bacon bits
3. Step 3. Stir the mixture together until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
4. Step 4: Place a wonton wrapper on to the palm of your hand or on to a clean surface. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the filling into the center of the wrapper.
5. Step 5: Wet the edges of the wrapper with a little water, then fold one corner over to the opposite corner to form a triangle. Fold the remaining sides inwards to create a box shape. Press the edges together firmly to seal.
6. Step 6: Pour the oil into a deep pan, enough to submerge the wontons. Heat the oil over high heat until it reaches about 350°F (180°C). In small batches, carefully drop 2-3 wontons into the hot oil.
7. Step 7: Fry the wontons for 1-2 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil.
Hint: Make sure to securely seal the edges of the wonton wrappers to prevent the filling from leaking out during frying. After forming the wontons, gently press around the filling to remove any air pockets, which can cause them to burst open while frying. A well-sealed wonton will fry evenly, retain its filling, and come out perfectly crispy every time!
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Substitutions
Wonton wrappers - If you can't find wonton wrappers, you could use phyllo pastry or egg roll wrappers cut into squares, but the texture will be slightly different.
Cream Cheese - Sour Cream, greek yoghurt or cottage cheese could be used instead of cream cheese. For a dairy-free alternative, dairy-free cream cheese or blended silken tofu could be used.
Cheddar Cheese - Replace cheddar with any sharp cheese, like Gouda or even a spicy pepper jack for an extra kick.
Mozzarella: Provolone or a mild white cheese could work well instead of mozzarella or just add extra cheddar cheese for a stronger taste.
Bacon - For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon or replace it with smoky tempeh or plant-based bacon.
Spring Onions - Chives or finely chopped red onion can be used if you don’t have spring onions on hand.
Jalapeños - If you want less heat, use pickled jalapeños for a milder flavor, or omit them if you're not a fan of spice.
Vegetable oil: Any neutral oil like canola or peanut oil will work well for frying.
Variations
Sweet - Add some honey to the mixture to give a sweet contrast to the spicy jalapeños
Kid friendly - Omit the jalapeños for a non-spicy, kid friendly version
Air Fryer - These wontons can be made in the Air Fryer by air frying for 10 minutes at 200°C or 400°F
Equipment
Sharp knife
Storage
I would recommend that if you plan on saving some jalapeño popper wontons for another time that you don't build them until they are ready to eat. This will avoid them going soggy. To do this, store the leftover mixture in the fridge for up to 3 days then fill wonton wrappers with the filling on the day they will be eaten and fry as normal.
To store cooked leftover Jalapeño Popper Wontons, let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To reheat, bake them in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until crispy. For longer storage, freeze the wontons in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.
Top Tip
The wontons will likely float to the surface while frying and not cook evenly. To prevent this, push them down and move them around with the slotted spoon to ensure most of the wonton is being fried in the oil. If the oil starts to splatter, turn the heat down slightly to control the heat. If the wontons are not sealed properly, the oil is more likely to splatter if the filling touches it.
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Recipe
Jalapeño Popper Wontons
Equipment
- Medium mixing bowl
- Small pot
- Slotted spoon
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 250 g Wonton wrappers
- 2 tablespoon cream cheese
- 40 g Jalapeños
- ⅓ cup grated cheddar grated, 35g
- ⅓ cup Mozzarella grated, 35g
- 125 g bacon
- 2 spring onions ⅓ cup
- Vegetable oil for frying enough to cover the wontons in the pot you use
Instructions
Preparing ingredients
- Chop the jalapeños in to small cubes by cutting strips lengthwise then cutting across the strips to make small cubes40 g Jalapeños
- Chop spring onions into small pieces2 spring onions
- Grate the cheese using the large side of the grater unless using pre grated cheese⅓ cup grated cheddar, ⅓ cup Mozzarella
- Cooking the bacon until it’s crispy. You can either fry the bacon in a pan on medium heat with a little cooking oil or bake it in the oven until it reaches your desired crispness. Once done, chop it into small pieces and set aside with the rest of the ingredients.125 g bacon
For the wontons
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, grated cheddar, grated mozzarella, chopped spring onions, jalapeños, and bacon bits2 tablespoon cream cheese, 40 g Jalapeños, ⅓ cup grated cheddar, ⅓ cup Mozzarella, 125 g bacon, 2 spring onions
- Stir the mixture together until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Place a wonton wrapper on to the palm of your hand or on to a clean surface. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the filling into the center of the wrapper.250 g Wonton wrappers
- Wet the edges of the wrapper with a little water, then fold one corner over to the opposite corner to form a triangle. Fold the remaining sides inwards to create a box shape. Press the edges together firmly to seal
- Pour the oil into a deep pan, enough to submerge the wontons. Heat the oil over high heat until it reaches about 350°F (180°C). In small batches, carefully drop 3-4 wontons into the hot oil.Vegetable oil for frying
- Fry the wontons for 1-2 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil.
